It's worth a try

Published: Monday, October 8, 2012 at 10:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, October 8, 2012 at 10:16 p.m.

It sounds like a great idea. Parish Councilman Greg Hood is proposing to outlaw the sale of synthetic drugs, dangerous concoctions called “bath salts” in Terrebonne.

But such a proposal's effectiveness will lie in the details.

Anyone with any sense would want to ban these designer drugs, which law-enforcement and health officials say have been associated with psychotic episodes, violent behavior and, in some cases, death.

But to outlaw a substance, the Parish Council will first have to define it. So far, nobody has been able to do that, at least not effectively. That's because manufacturers change the drugs' makeup regularly and quickly, so laws that aim to ban their use or sale can't keep up. These drugs can contain almost anything — including chemicals that can irreparably damage brain or body — and are often sold in a way that appeals to teens and young adults. In some cases, the drugs are made up of substances that alone are completely legal and in most cases harmless. But combined, they can produce highs that might mimic cocaine, marijuana or other illicit drugs — or worse.

Louisiana outlawed the sale, use or manufacture of bath salts in January 2011 after the state's Poison Control Center reported receiving 165 emergency calls in three months from people who snorted, smoked or injected these dangerous substances. Eighty-five percent came from emergency room doctors and first responders caring for individuals suffering the traumatic side effects, Gov. Bobby Jindal said at the time.

Last year, national poison-control centers received more than 6,000 such calls, leading Congress and President Obama to enact a law this July that also seeks to outlaw the drugs.

Anecdotal reports indicate that the sale of these drugs and the emergency calls that result have declined after these or other bans were enacted, which alone may be a reason to enact something locally. But those whose job is to enforce these laws sound a similar, frustrating complaint.

“Basically, we're playing whack-a-mole,” Arthur Berrier, senior research chemist for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, told NPR in June. “They make one drug ... or one compound, and we smack it down, and the next week, something else pops up.”

A lot of questions remain about whether the Parish Council, however well-intended, can have a real impact on this threat to health and safety. Among them: Is a local law necessary if the state and federal governments have already enacted bans. And is there a way to keep up with the ever-changing makeup of these drugs so that any ban will be enforceable and will hold up in court?

Somehow, there has got to be a way. With so much a stake, finding an answer is definitely worth a try.

<p>It sounds like a great idea. Parish Councilman Greg Hood is proposing to outlaw the sale of synthetic drugs, dangerous concoctions called “bath salts” in Terrebonne.</p><p>But such a proposal's effectiveness will lie in the details.</p><p>Anyone with any sense would want to ban these designer drugs, which law-enforcement and health officials say have been associated with psychotic episodes, violent behavior and, in some cases, death.</p><p>But to outlaw a substance, the Parish Council will first have to define it. So far, nobody has been able to do that, at least not effectively. That's because manufacturers change the drugs' makeup regularly and quickly, so laws that aim to ban their use or sale can't keep up. These drugs can contain almost anything — including chemicals that can irreparably damage brain or body — and are often sold in a way that appeals to teens and young adults. In some cases, the drugs are made up of substances that alone are completely legal and in most cases harmless. But combined, they can produce highs that might mimic cocaine, marijuana or other illicit drugs — or worse.</p><p>Louisiana outlawed the sale, use or manufacture of bath salts in January 2011 after the state's Poison Control Center reported receiving 165 emergency calls in three months from people who snorted, smoked or injected these dangerous substances. Eighty-five percent came from emergency room doctors and first responders caring for individuals suffering the traumatic side effects, Gov. Bobby Jindal said at the time.</p><p>Last year, national poison-control centers received more than 6,000 such calls, leading Congress and President Obama to enact a law this July that also seeks to outlaw the drugs.</p><p>Anecdotal reports indicate that the sale of these drugs and the emergency calls that result have declined after these or other bans were enacted, which alone may be a reason to enact something locally. But those whose job is to enforce these laws sound a similar, frustrating complaint.</p><p>“Basically, we're playing whack-a-mole,” Arthur Berrier, senior research chemist for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, told NPR in June. “They make one drug ... or one compound, and we smack it down, and the next week, something else pops up.”</p><p>A lot of questions remain about whether the Parish Council, however well-intended, can have a real impact on this threat to health and safety. Among them: Is a local law necessary if the state and federal governments have already enacted bans. And is there a way to keep up with the ever-changing makeup of these drugs so that any ban will be enforceable and will hold up in court?</p><p>Somehow, there has got to be a way. With so much a stake, finding an answer is definitely worth a try.</p><p>Editorial represent the opinions of </p><p>the newspaper, not of any individual.</p>